FAQ

FAQ

​General Program Questions

Which COLLEGES AND universities have a Teaching Fellows program? What do Teaching Fellows receive?

The Teaching Fellows Pprogram is available at Anderson University, Charleston Southern University, Clemson University (beginning in fall 2020), Coastal Carolina University, College of Charleston, Francis Marion University, Lander University, USC Aiken, USC Columbia, USC Upstate, and Winthrop University. Each Teaching Fellows Institution (TFI) has a Campus Director who works closely with the cohort of Fellows throughout their higher education experience. Teaching Fellows participate in enrichment programs, have professional development opportunities, are involved with S.C. communities and businesses, and receive up to $6,000 in annual fellowships for four years while completing a degree leading to teacher certification. The total possible fellowship of up to $24,000 provides up to $5,700 annually for tuition, board, and direct education expenses and up to $300 annually for planned enrichment programs. Funds not used in fall or spring semesters due to other scholarships or funding sources can be used for Mmaymester or summer school, but only during the same academic school year.

​To apply for Teaching Fellows, you must be a United States citizen or permanent resident alien legally authorized to be in the United States, a legal resident of South Carolina, and a high school senior or junior graduating early. Please note that students categorized as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) are not eligible for Teaching Fellows. ​Residency will be verified by the Teaching Fellows Institution after a student has been offered an award.

How Do I Apply?

You must complete the online application during the application window. A transcript, ACT and/or SAT score reports, and two references must be submitted. More information can be found on the application page.

In order for your application to be considered complete you must answer all mandatory questions and a high school transcript, your ACT and/or SAT scores, and two references must be submitted before 11:59 PM on December 1, 2019. You will enter your school counselor’s name and contact information as a part of the online application. Kaleidoscope will contact your school counselor and ask him/her to submit your transcript. SAT and/or ACT test scores can be submitted to CERRA in one of two ways.

1) You may request that an official score report be sent to CERRA directly from the SAT and/or ACT test administrators by providing CERRA’s organization code. The SAT code is 3680 and the ACT code 3873.

Once you begin the application process, you will have access to a personalized Kaleidoscope dashboard. It is your responsibility to monitor this dashboard and ensure your application, transcript, test scores, and references are submitted by the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be scored.

SAT and/or ACT test scores can be submitted to CERRA in one of two ways.

1) You may request that an official score report be sent to CERRA directly from the SAT and/or ACT test administrators by providing CERRA’s organization code. The SAT code is 3680 and the ACT code 3873.​2) Your school counselor can upload a copy of your SAT/ACT test scores when uploading your transcript.

It is your responsibility to monitor your personalized Kaleidoscope dashboard to ensure your test scores are submitted by the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be scored.

If you receive an updated score after your school counselor has uploaded your test scores and you would like the new score added to your application, you need to have an official score report sent. In order for test scores to affect the first round of scoring (determining who is invited to a regional screening), the score report must arrive at CERRA by 11:59 pm on December 1, 2019. Only score reports sent to CERRA or uploaded to Kaleidoscope between September 1, 2019 and December 1, 2019 will be accepted for the first round of scoring of the Teaching Fellows application. Please note that CERRA is not responsible for misguided or misdirected mail.

Regional Screening - "Interview Day" Questions

What is the purpose of the REgional Screening?

Qualifying applicants are invited to a regional screening. The regional screening includes an interview, a presentation, and an assessment of writing ability. The purpose of the interview and presentation is to assess the following: communication skills, commitment to education, knowledge of educational issues, leadership potential, originality in responses, and problem-solving ability.

InterviewA diverse team of professionals from the business and education communities conduct interviews with Teaching Fellows applicants. The interview questions are pre-determined by CERRA and are not shared with applicants. Students who have been invited to participate in a regional screening should refer to their “Student Packet” for more information about the interview.

PresentationApplicants who have been invited to participate in a regional screening will prepare and share an oral presentation on a topic determined by CERRA. These students should refer to their “Student Packet” for more information about the presentation.

Assessment of Writing AbilityApplicants who have been invited to participate in a regional screening also will be scheduled to complete a 30 minute assessment of writing ability. The assessment is conducted at the interview site and is completed before the interview. Students who have been invited to participate in a regional screening should refer to their “Student Packet” for more information about the assessment of writing ability.

When will I know if I am invited to a regional interview?

​Applicants will be notified of their status by mid January. All students who apply for the Fellowship will be notified by mail.

IF I AM INVITED TO A REGIONAL SCREENING AND I RECEIVED NEW SAT/ACT SCORES, CAN THEY BE USED TO RAISE MY TOTAL CUMULATIVE SCORE?

​Yes, but scores must be received by CERRA no later than the date of the Teaching Fellows interviews.

Who serves on the Regional Interview teams?

​The teams will be comprised of educators, elected officials, business persons, PTA/PTO representatives and other education stakeholders.

Award Process Questions

How many awards will there be?

The number of Teaching Fellows awards is based upon the amount of funding CERRA receives from the South Carolina General Assembly. ​

When will I be notified if I have received an award?

All applicants who attended a regional screening will receive a letter by mail by in late March or early April.

Are applicants guaranteed their first choice institution?

Students who are invited to a regional screeningn interview are asked to rank all eleventen institutions. As much as possible, students awarded a Fellowship will be assigned to their first choice institution. However, each institution has a limited number of openings in their cohort and the maximum number of awards per school is set in Teaching Fellows policy. As a result, some students may be awarded a Fellowship to their second or third choice institution, based on total cumulative scores. Students may accept the award to the assigned institution, accept the award to the assigned institution and ask to be placed on a waiting list for another institution, simply request to be placed on a waiting list for another institution, or decline the award. If selecting to be placed on a waiting list, there is no guarantee that a space will become available or that another Teaching Fellows award will be offered. The waiting list remains active through the first semester of sophomore year.

Teaching Fellows awardees should not contact the Teaching Fellows Institutions and ask for the cohort number to be extended beyond what is set in policy

Does receiving a Teaching Fellows award mean automatic acceptance to the institution of choice?

​No. Teaching Fellows award recipients must apply and be accepted by the institutions as any other student would. Applicants should apply early to their first three choices.

I was named as an alternate. What does this mean?

Each Teaching Fellows applicant receives a total cumulative score based on his/her application, references, interview, presentation, and assessment of writing ability. Cumulative scores are rank ordered from highest to lowest. For the 2019-2020 cohort, the 200 students with the highest cumulative scores were offered an award during the initial process. While the students who were named as alternates for the Teaching Fellows award did not receive one of top 200 scores, CERRA recognizes that they possess many strong qualities and may be willing to offer a fellowship should one become available. As a Teaching Fellow alternate, you will be notified immediately if a fellowship becomes available. A fellowship will open if a candidate declines the fellowship during the award process or does not meet the requirements of the Program. You may be offered a fellowship through the end of the first semester of the cohort's sophomore year. Alternates will be offered available fellowships based on their rank order. Alternates are not guaranteed an award.

Can CERRA provide me with my cumulative score?

​No. The scoring process is confidential and we cannot provide cumulative scores or information about a candidate's performance on any portion of the selection process.

Who can serve as a surety on my promissory note?

The promissory note must be executed by the Fellow's parent or guardian if the Fellow is under eighteen (18) years of age at the date of execution. If the Fellow is eighteen (18) years of age or older, he/she must obtain the signature of a surety who is at least twenty-one (21) years of age and is a United States citizen or permanent resident alien of the United States. The surety may be a parent or a guardian.

​Teaching Fellows awards are not final until the promissory note is received. CERRA cannot accept a promissory note without a surety.

Other Scholarship Questions

Can the Teaching Fellows scholarship be combined with other state scholarships and loans?

​Yes, it may be combined with the Palmetto Scholarship, LIFE scholarship, or HOPE scholarship. A Fellow may also receive the SC Teachers Loan.

Are there other programs in the state that will assist with paying for college for students majoring in education?

​Yes, the SC Teachers Loan Program can provide funds for students who teach in certain critical subject areas or are willing to teach in critical geographic schools. Contact the Student Loan Corporation by calling 800.347.2752 or visit them on the Web at www.scstudentloan.org.

Program Requirement Questions

What are the requirements while I am in the program?

While in the Program, a Teaching Fellow must:

maintain successful progress toward SC teacher certification;

successfully complete 30 semester hours per academic year (or maintain status as a freshman with 30 completed hours, a sophomore with 60 completed hours, a junior with 90 completed hours, or a senior with 120 completed hours);

maintain a minimum cumulative Teaching Fellows Institution (TFI) GPA of 2.75 or 2.80​ (​beginning with the 2017 awardees, the required GPA will be 2.80)​;

be accepted into the TFI Teacher Education Program by their junior year;

remain a full-time student during each fall and spring term;

attend Teaching Fellows programs as assigned by the institution; and

attend enrichment programs as assigned by the institution and CERRA.

Fellows who do not fulfill these commitments/responsibilities will be placed on probation for one semester pending fulfillment of the obligation. Continued failure to meet requirements will result in loss of the Fellowship. The Fellow is then obligated to repay the total funds awarded to that point, beginning 180 days after notification. Payments are made on a monthly schedule over a maximum of seven years. Interest will begin to accrue at the rate of the Stafford Loan Program plus two percentage points once the first payment is due. Repayment may be postponed while the student remains a full-time undergraduate as long as there is no break in attendance.

What happens if my parents move out of state? Do I lose my fellowship?

No, but there must not be a break in your college attendance, other than during the summers. You can learn more about this by reading the Codes and Regulations for the State of South Carolina.

Can Fellows scholarship money be used for summer school at another SC institution if the hours are part of the program at the home institution?

​No, the money must be spent at the home Teaching Fellows Institution (TFI).

Can summer school hours be used as part of the required 30 hours for the previous year?

​Yes. Summer school hours at the home Teaching Fellows Institution count toward the 30 required hours.

Can advanced placement credits count as part of the 30 hours to meet Teaching Fellows requirements?

Yes, these hours can be counted towards the Program requirements, but the grades are not applied to the Teaching Fellows Institution GPA.

Are GPA credits transferable from another institution other than my Teaching Fellows Institution?

​No. GPA calculations are based only on courses taken at the home TFI. However, approved courses at an institution other than the home TFI may be used to meet the program hours requirement of 30 hours per academic school year.

Is it possible to transfer from one Teaching Fellows Institution to another?

Yes. The Fellow must initiate the process by talking with his/her Campus Director and must be in good standing with the requirements of the Program. There must be an opening in the lateral cohort at the Teaching Fellows Institution where the Fellow wishes to transfer. Students may transfer no later than the first semester of their sophomore year. Francis Marion University accepted its first cohort of freshman Teaching Fellows in 2014. Transfers for any cohort before the 2014 cohort are not possible. USC Aiken and Coastal Carolina University first accepted their first cohorts of freshman Teaching Fellows in 2015. Transfers for any cohort before the 2015 cohort are not possible. Clemson will accept its first cohort of Teaching Fellows in 2020. Transfer for any cohort before 2020 are not possible.

Loan Forgiveness Questions

What are the “payback” or loan forgiveness provisions of the program?

The amount of time it takes to “work off” a fellowship depends on the number of years the Fellow receives funds. Fellows owes one year of teaching in a SC public school for every year they receive funds, regardless of the amount of money accepted from the Program. In most cases, the student will have received funding for four years and so must complete four years of teaching. Each Teaching Fellow who graduates in good standing is granted one grace year to satisfy this teaching requirement and must submit appropriate paperwork each year. The grace year may be used at any point following graduation. If a Teaching Fellow does not meet the teaching requirement, he or she is obligated to repay the appropriate portion of the award with interest.

Are Teaching Fellows required to teach in a critical needs subject or area?

​No, but they must teach in a public school in South Carolina.

Are any other school positions approved for loan forgiveness?

Yes, Teaching Fellows may receive loan forgiveness for service as a media specialist, occupational therapist, school counselor/mental health counselor, school psychologist, school social worker, or speech pathologist. Part-time and assistant positions do not count towards loan forgiveness.

If I choose to leave the Teaching Fellows program but continue as an education major, can I work off my monetary obligation by teaching in a public school?

​No, the provision allowing the student to repay the Fellowship by teaching is an option only for students who complete the Fellows Program.

Are there any options for those who want to attend graduate school?

​Yes, a student who completed the Teaching Fellows program and graduated in good standing may request deferment of the loan service obligation for up to three years while enrolled as a full-time graduate student.

Are there any options for those in the military?

Yes, a student who completed the Teaching Fellows program and graduated in good standing may request deferment of the loan service obligation for up to five years while on active duty with the Armed Forces of the United States.